Short Summary

Violent thunderstorms followed by floods spread over the South of England and South Wales August 10.

Description

Violent thunderstorms followed by floods spread over the South of England and South Wales August 10.

Flooding was worst in the West Country. A heavy downpour at Plymouth, Devon, flooded a large part of the city centre. Within a matter of minutes, streets and low-lying buildings were as much as a foot under water. Cars had to be abandoned and people were marooned in shops. Firemen were busy with their pumps - they emptied sixty flooded basements in half an hour.

Other places in Devon and Cornwall were equally affected. In some resorts water was three feet deep in the streets.

Road conditions became dangerous when the drought-polished surfaces turned as slippery as glass in the rain, causing hundreds of skids.